Well hello everyone. Hope all is well after the Blizzard of 2016 and the long winter. I know I mentioned in the past how much I love the snow and the winter weather and I still do, but this one proved a winner and many were greatly inconvenienced with snow and garbage removal. We shall move on to spring and enjoy the changing seasons.
Tickets are now on sale for when Maggie’s Little Theater in Middle Village presents Ken Ludwig’s farce “Lend Me a Tenor!” at St. Margaret’s Church parish hall. Performances run from February 27th through March 13th. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for Seniors and $12 for children under age 11. For show times call 917 579 5389 or visit MaggiesLittleTheater.org.
Our Lady of Hope alumnus, Jack Rosenhammer, graduated from West Point and was commissioned as an Infantry 2nd Lt. He majored in Arabic/Persian studies and is now stationed in Ft. Benning Georgia. On June 6th, he married his long-time girlfriend Mariya in the Cadet Chapel at West Point. Congratulations Jack and Mariya.
Our Lady of Hope’s Holy Name Society will sponsor the annual St. Joseph/St Patrick dinner-dance for the Parish on Saturday, March 19th. As last year, a hot dinner, a DJ for your dancing and listening pleasure, and a fun evening will be offered along with good company, the cost is $35 per person. Tickets are available in church after most weekend Masses or at the Rectory during the week.
Many of you will remember NYPD Detective Steven McDonald who was shot and paralyzed in Central Park in 1986. His wife Patti was pregnant at the time. Their son Conor grew up to be a policeman himself and recently achieved a gold shield. His new detective shield bears the number of a man who helped save his father’s life. The number 97 recalls another detective, Brian Mulheren (photo below, right) of Middle Village who pushed for his father to get critical help with a hospital transfer. Mulheren said he was honored by Conor’s gesture. Congratulations, Conor!
St. Margaret’s Parish will hold its annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance in the Parish Hall on Saturday night March 5th from 7 – 12 pm. Tickets are $45 which includes dancing, dinner, wine, beer, dessert, coffee and tea. Music provided by the Cunningham Brothers. For Tickets please call Maureen at 917 589-6904.
On Sunday, January 3rd, Ponticello’s Restaurant in Astoria closed its doors. The owners, Joe and Luigi decided it was time after thirty-five years to retire and enjoy their families. Best of luck and good health, guys! We enjoyed your restaurant for many of those years and hate to see you go but know you deserve a great retirement.
Congratulations to Kay Scott who became a Great Grandmother to beautiful Ava Paige. The very proud grandfather is Kay’s son Brian who grew up on 77th Street in Middle Village with his brothers Michael, Richie and Chris, all members of the FDNY.
Did you know that our dear friend, Father Peter Purpura offers Mass at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn on Sundays at 11 am and that it is televised on Time Warner’s NET TV which is channel 97? If you know someone who is homebound please pass this on. Those of you who know Father Peter may not recognize his new look, but it’s him. Looking good, Father!
This little cutie is Emily Rae Mougis and she is the Great Granddaughter, YES, you read that correctly, of JPCA Vice President Lorraine Sciulli and her husband John. Emily Rae was born January 26th and she is the daughter of Lorraine’s grandson, Steven Mougis, and his wife, Jessica. Paternal grandparents are Carol and Andrew Mougis, both of whom grew up on 81st Street in Middle Village right across from Juniper Valley Park. Congratulations also to maternal Grandparents, Karen Noe and Larry Noe.
Many thanks to Frances Passantino for her generous $500 donation to the Juniper Park Civic Association in December. Frances was one of three 2015 honorees of the Middle Village Kiwanis for her outstanding contributions to the community of Middle Village.
Salvatore & Maria D’Angelo married on 7/31/1965 celebrated their 50th Anniversary with family and friends at Russo’s on the Bay last year. Congratulations to the wonderful couple!
On Friday, February 12th, the Killcommons and Werner families held a big birthday bash for me and my daughter Kelly Killcommons Werner. Kelly was born on my birthday so every year we have one big party, this year was no different.
The Rumba Nightclub on Woodhaven Boulevard across from St. John’s Cemetery is in the process of losing their liquor license. The club has been a troublesome spot with numerous complaints by neighbors and multiple violations by the FDNY, State Liquor Authority, and Dept. of Health.
Chef Vinny Accardi of Room 55 in Glendale, featured in the September 2014 Juniper Berry, was on the season premiere of Restaurant Startup on CNBC on January 6th. The reality-type show pits two restaurants that wish to start a new venture against each other. They vie for the approval of celebrity restaurateurs Joe Bastianich and Tim Love. Room 55 was looking to expand by opening a steakhouse in a second location. To make a long story short, Vinny and his friend, Trevor McGrath, wowed the team and they offered to invest in the current restaurant. Since their appearance on the show, business has been booming at Room 55. So if you want a table, be sure to make a reservation! To watch the episode, visit: www.cnbcprime.com/restaurant-startup/episode/raising-the-stakes.
Students from PS58 and Maspeth residents joined together at the TD Bank branch at 73-55 Grand Ave. on Friday, December 11th to donate their loose change to help Mairani Portilla, a fourth-grader who was recently orphaned. Mairani’s parents came to the U.S. to provide their daughter with a better life. Since that time, Mairani has lost both parents to cancer. In order to avoid being placed in the foster care system, Mairani is staying with her aunt, whom event organizers said has a limited income. After hearing of Mairani’s story, TD Bank sent a proposal to set up a donation to help raise funds for Mairani and her family. TD Bank collected $1,342.54 from generous customers. TD Bank also donated an additional $2,000 to Mairani and her family, bringing the total donation amount to $3,342.54. Robert Dworniczak, vice president and manager of the TD Bank branch, presented Mairani a check for the donated amount.
Pictured from left to right: Maria Portilla, Mairani’s aunt; Luis, Mairani’s cousin; Mairani Portilla; Robert Dworniczak, vice president and store manager; Latchmie Mangra, assistant store manager; Jenylen M. Zurbano, store supervisor; and Katerine Palacios, store supervisor.
Send info and photos to:
KillysKorner@aol.com
or write: Juniper Berry
PO Box 790275
Middle Village, NY 11379
deadline for
next issue:
May 15, 2016
